INTRODUCTION
Every child of God is under orders to be "filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18). Let us therefore not be content to only learn about doctrine, but to go on in obedience and actually experience this "filling." I. FILLED WITH THE SPlRIT - WHAT IT IS NOT.
A. It is not receiving more of the Spirit.
Every child of God is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Because the Spirit of God is a person it is folly to speak as though He could be received in differing amounts. B. It is not spiritual growth.
Christians may be Spirit-filled at every stage of maturity. A babe in Christ may be Spirit filled while a mature Christian may enter into a time of failing in this area. The living of a "Spirit-filled" life should be viewed rather as a position of good spiritual health. While health may be experienced at any age, yet the lack of good health is a deterrent to proper growth in both the spiritual and physical realm. C. It is not to be confused with other workings of the Spirit.
The experiences of being "Spirit-filled" and "baptized with the Spirit" have often been confused. As would be expected the filling accompanied the baptism in Acts 2, but to therefore confuse them is a serious error that ends up perverting both truths. The baptism with the Spirit was given at Pentecost while people were Spirit-filled even before Christ's birth. We are commanded to be Spirit-filled while no one has ever been commanded to be baptized with the Spirit. They are clearly different experiences. II. FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT - WHAT IT IS.
To be filled with the Spirit is simply to be yielded to Him in every area of our life. This experience is often directly and indirectly compared to drunkenness (Ephesians 5:18, Luke 1:15, Acts 2:13). Just as wine controls the drunkard and makes him bold and vocal so the Spirit-filled individual is under the sway of the Holy Spirit. He becomes spiritually bold and able to testify for His Lord.
The experience of those who have been Spirit-filled seem to vary greatly. In normal Christian living the saint is daily filled as he confesses his sin and yields to God. The filling in this instance is not so much an emotional experience as a continuance of fellowship with God. At other times the filling has come upon an individual unsought or with special signs. Please note the various circumstances which surrounded the filling in the following Scriptures: Luke 1:15, 1:41, 1:67, 4:1; Acts 2:4, 4:8, 4:31, 7:55, 9:17, 11:24, 13:9, 13:52.
These Scriptures make it very plain that the experience of being Spirit-filled follows no certain pattern as to the surrounding circumstances. The experience came before and after Pentecost, with and without visible signs, and upon many different types of individuals from our Saviour to an unborn baby. The experience is associated with praise, soul-winning, and judgment (in the case of Barjesus).
In taking note of all this we should be careful to remember that regardless of the surrounding events, the filling itself is simply the Spirit of God taking control of one's life. In our own life we may have times of being Spirit-filled that seem like mountain-top experiences while at other times the yielding to God produces only the quiet joy and peace of everyday Christian living. Regardless of the presence or absence of certain experiences let us be assured that each Christian may be Spirit-filled everyday. God alone knows the particular work that needs to be done and therefore He alone can determine the circumstances that are to surround our daily fillings. III. CONDITIONS UPON WHICH ONE IS SPIRIT-FILLED.
Because we are commanded to be "filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18) it is obvious that there are conditions to be met under normal circumstances. The Christian who desires to be Spirit filled should note the following: A. Quench not the Spirit - I Thessalonians 5:19.
B. Grieve not the Spirit;. Ephesians 4:30.
C. Walk in the Spirit - Galatians 5: 16.
This is a yielding to the Spirit rather than to the power of the flesh. D. Pray - Acts 4:31, Luke 11:13.
Every Christian should pray daily for a closer walk with God and for a greater anointing of the Spirit in his life.
How sad for any child of God to dishonor his Lord by allowing the flesh to mar his testimony (I Corinthians 3:3). God uses those who are "Spirit-filled" (Acts 6:3, 11:24). IV. THE RESULTS OF BEING SPIRIT-FILLED.
A. Bold preaching - Luke 1:15-16, Acts 4:8, Acts 4:31, Acts 9:7-20, Isaiah 61:1.B. Joy - Acts 13:52, Ephesians 5:18-19.
C. Unity - I Corinthians 3:1-3, Ephesians 4:3.
D. Praise - Ephesians 5:19-20.
E. Spiritual growth - When God is at the helm of our life we may expect to grow daily in the grace and knowledge of our Lord (II Peter 3:18).
F. Proper behavior in our relations to others - In Ephesians 5:21-6:9, Paul deals with the various duties of the husband, wife, child, parent, employee and employer. Notice that the context is the filling with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). Is not Paul teaching that only through the power of God’s Spirit can we properly fill our various roles?
CONCLUSION
May each of us count it as a sacred duty to daily be "filled with the Spirit." To be filled with the Spirit should be viewed as the normal Christian experience rather than the privilege of some select few. ================= Go to Chapter Eighteen of Holy Spirit Study
Return to Holy Spirit Index Page